The Western Capital of Ancient Japan
Japan’s Hub for Cultural Exchange with East Asia

What is Japan Heritage?

Cultures and traditions of Japan are

passed down through stories based on

unique regional histories and traditions.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs recognizes
these stories as Japan Heritage.

The purpose is to promote the compre-

hensive maintenance and use of attrac-

tive tangible and intangible culturalproperties, mainly through local efforts,
and to revitalize regional economies
by strategically promoting them within
Japan and abroad.

LuoyangDengzhouGeumseong(Gyeongju)
Hangzhou

Yuezhou

MingzhouDazaifu - The Western Capital

A capital once stood in Western Japan on the island of Kyushu—that

city’s name was Dazaifu.

Described as “the Emperor’s distant Imperial Court” in the Man’yoshu

and “one of the biggest cities in Japan” in the Shoku Nihongi, the grandcity of Dazaifu stood here 1300 years ago. Dazaifu flourished from ancient
times through the middle ages thanks to the advanced culture broughtboth from the national capital and from abroad.
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The Western Capital Connected with the World

What he built was a grid-based city that utilized the exist-

Thirteen hundred years ago, the Tang Dynasty of China

prospered as a global empire. Surrounding nations madeing fortifications, including the Mizuki and the Ono-jo andsystems of the Tang Dynasty, and Japan was no exception.

meters square and was laid out in a grid called the Dazaifu

every effort to adopt the literature, culture, and political

Kii-jo Fortresses. The city measured approximately 2 kilo-

Awata no Mahito, one of the Japanese envoys to Tang

Jobo. The Dazaifu Government Office and related offices

China during Japan’s Taiho era (701-704CE), brought backwere placed north of the city center with the main Suzaku

new ideas from the mainland and contributed to the pro-

Avenue leading up to it. The width of Dazaifu’s Suzaku Ave-

motion of national reform. This helped Japan enter thenue was a quarter that of Chang’an’s Suzaku Avenue andNara period (710-794CE), an era characterized by consider-half of Heijokyo’s Suzaku Avenue, making it the second

largest in Japan. Facilities like those in the national capital,

able international exchange.

such as schools (gakko-in) for children of government offi-

Awata no Mahito was treated well by the Chinese

Emperor in Chang’an, the capital of Tang China. Chang’ancials, temples with connections to the Emperor (Kanzeonji

was the most advanced city in East Asia at that time. Hei-

Temple and Han’nyaji Temple), a Guest House (Kyaku-kan)

and other residences were built in the city. Buildings werejokyo (the capital in Nara) and Dazaifu were later built

clad in roof tiles bearing the same lotus patterns as thoseon information he had gathered on Chang’an during his

in Nara, and statues bearing the lion faces that Awata no

time there. Although Tenji-era (662-672CE) Tsukushi, with

Mahito saw in Tang China looked down upon the com-

its fortifications like the Mizuki and the Ono-jo and Kii-jo
Fortresses, was already modeled after the capital of theings and goings. The Kando—the national road network—

Baekje Kingdom (one of the ancient three kingdoms ofextended in four directions, facilitating the exchange of

Korea), the city was reborn as the Western Capital once

goods and culture.

Awata no Mahito was assigned to Dazaifu and became
directly involved in city planning.

Foreign Delegations Welcomed at
the Capital

In Dazaifu, foreign delegations were welcomed and diplo-

macy and trade were conducted by the state. Foreign dele-gations first arrived at Tsukushi no Murotsumi (Korokan) on
the coast of Hakata Bay and then headed for Dazaifu. They

proceeded on the Kando road to Dazaifu before reaching

the West Gate of the Mizuki wall and moat. After continuing

through the gate, they went north on Suzaku Avenue fromthe presumed Rajomon Gate while viewing the streets ofDazaifu, before finally arriving at Kyaku-kan to stay.

For official diplomatic engagements, delegations left

Kyaku-kan, went north on Suzaku Avenue and headed forthe Dazaifu Government Office. At the Government Office,a ceremony and a hospitality banquet would be held withaccompanying music. Elegant tableware from Japan, Tang
China and Silla Korea was laid out and the visiting delega-tion would be served luxurious cuisine . Tea, which had been
introduced from China, was sometimes served as well.
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Accumulation of Advanced Cultures

Kanzeonji Temple serves as an archive for much ofKanzeonji Temple after landing in Japan. It is here where

through national and international exchange. Kanzeo-

in Japan. Based on its historical significance, Kanzeonji

the culture and artifacts that accumulated in Dazaifu
nji was a national temple built at the behest of Emperor

Tenji. Genbo, who had the honor of receiving a Buddhist

priest’s stole directly from Emperor Xuan Zong of the Tang
Dynasty, held a ceremony to mark its completion. Many
sculptures reflecting the influence of the national capitaland continental cultures, including the 5-meter Kanzeon
Bosatsu statue, were built in a short period of time. This
temple also housed a bugaku musical troupe to enter-tain foreign delegations at banquets. The masks used onthese occasions still remain. In addition, Jianzhen (a Chi-nese Buddhist monk known in Japan as Ganjin) stayed at

A Blossoming Culture in Tsukushi

When Dazaifu was the western capital, many people ofTang China. The Man’yoshu poets composed poems

Distinguished Buddhist priests like Jianzhen (Ganjin),tions like Ono-jo Fortress and Suita no Yu (Futsukaichi

culture gathered in Dazaifu to entertain foreign guests.
Kukai, and Saicho also often visited to share their ideas.
Educated and cultured visitors to Dazaifu brought in new
ideas and culture to the city. One example was Ono nodence. These parties were mentioned in the Man’yoshu

and helped shape Japan’s poetic culture. Participants
would compose waka poems while enjoying the plumblossoms, which had recently been introduced from
6came back from Tang China, including Kukai, stayed forextended periods at this temple. It is here where they tran-

scribed Buddhist scriptures brought from China. Kanzeonji
is also home to the bronze Bonsho bell, the oldest bell inJapan. It was this bell that Sugawara no Michizane wrote

about in his poem entitled Mon wo Idezu (I Do Not Wish To
Leave).

Sugawara no Michizane was a scholar and poet who

facing Suzaku Avenue. After his death, he was enshrined

time, held plum-blossom viewing parties at his resi-

inal ordination hall still exists today. Many priests whocame to be loved as a flower deeply linked with Dazaifu.

with guests from the Tang Dynasty at the Kyaku-kan of
Otomo no Tabito, Governor-General of Dazaifu at thein Japan, and many priests were ordained here. The orig-

Hot Spring). It was around this time that plum blossoms
ended up being banished to Dazaifu. He spent his final

Dazaifu and developed friendships with the visitors.

was included as one of the three official ordination halls

about the scenery of Tsukushi and mentioned loca-

Takamura, a poet who excelled in calligraphy, painting

and poetry in the 9th century. He recited Chinese poems

he performed the first initiation of official Buddhist priests

years here, living an uncomfortable life at the South Hallat Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. The Jinko Procession waslater held out of reverence for Michizane. In it, participants parade from the site of the South Hall to Ten-mangu Shrine. The Jinko Procession is held in classical

These are some of the ways that Dazaifu served as Japan’s Western Capital, built by the Imperial Court to promote diplo-

style and is still observed every year on the Autumn

macy and trade. It was established following the lead of the national capitals of the Baekje Kingdom and Tang China, where

original Dazaifu grid pattern.

found throughout Tsukushi and it continues to intrigue people as one of the most important ancient capitals of Japan.

equinox. The procession even uses roads that follow thethe advanced cultures of East Asia were exchanged with Japanese culture. The legacy of this, the Western Capital, can be7

01
Chapter

The Western Capital

Chapter

Dazaifu—Japan’s Western Capital, modeled after the metropolises of Tang China.

Arising in the 8th century, Dazaifu grew to include institutions for government, military, religion,and education, and became a hub of both national and international cultural exchange.

Chapter01
The Western Capital
National Special Historic Site
Location: Dazaifu City

Site of Dazaifu Government Offices

The Dazaifu government was established in the 8th century
and controlled the entirety of Kyushu, including its diplo-

macy and defense. Located to the north of the 2 km-squarecity, this site was the center of the Dazaifu government andconsisted of symmetrical rows of tile-roofed buildings, sim-

ilar in layout to Heijokyo Palace (the seat of the national

government in Nara). Dazaifu welcomed numerous foreign
emissaries, making it a center for diplomatic exchange.

8901 The Western CapitalChapter

01 The Western Capital

City Historical Site

Location: Chikushino/Dazaifu City

Dazaifu City Grid

Ancient Dazaifu was a grid-based city consisting of streets runningeast-west (jo-ro) and north-south (bo-ro). The official in charge ofdesigning Dazaifu was also involved in designing Heijokyo, Japan’s
capital at the time, which itself was modeled after Chang’an, the capital of the Tang dynasty in China. The result was a grid layout considered the standard for capitals in East Asia.

Patterned brick

Chapter01

National Historic Site
Location: Dazaifu City

The Western Capital

Site of Dazaifu Gakko-in

Dazaifu was home to an academy named Fugakko thattrained government officials. Powerful families fromaround Saikaido (Kyushu) sent their children to study
here. Confucianism was held in high esteem at the timeand Oe no Masafusa, Provisional Governor-General of
Dazaifu in the early 12th century, is purported to havehung a portrait of Confucius at the academy that had

been brought back from a mission to Tang China by Kibi
no Makibi in the 8th century.

Location: Chikushino/Kasuga/Onojo/Dazaifu City/
Kiyama (Saga Pref.)Site of Kando (Public Road)The national government constructed a

National Important Cultural Property (Archaeological Record）
Location: Dazaifu City

network of roads in the 8th century called

Locations of Excavated Army Seals

the Kando. These roads connected thecapital with Dazaifu and Kyushu. Through(for the Mikasa and Oka Corps)

the western Mizuki gate lay Tsukushi no

At the start of the 8th century, army regiments were stationed

Murotsumi (Korokan), an inn for foreignin each province throughout Japan, four of which were sta-

diplomats, and the road through the east

tioned in Chikuzen Province where Dazaifu was located. These

gate led to Heijokyo (and later Heiankyo),bronze seals from two of the armies (the Mikasa and Oka Corps)

the center of the national government infound in the northwest of the Dazaifu city grid are evidence that

Nara. The influx of outside culture and civ-

troops were once stationed here. Japan’s military system wasilization spurred Dazaifu into prosperity.

modeled after that of China, and this system was apparently ineffect in even remote provinces like Chikuzen.
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02
Chapter

Dazaifu & Defense

Chapter

02 Dazaifu & Defense

After losing the Battle of Baekgang (Hakusukinoe) in Korea in 663, Japan used the tech-niques it learned in Korea to build mountain forts and strengthen its defenses in case of aninvasion from Tang China and the Korean Silla forces.

Chapter

02
Dazaifu & Defense
National Special Historic Site

Location: Kasuga/Onojo/Dazaifu City

Site of Mizuki Fortifications

This 1.2 km-long embankment was built in 664 across the open flat-

land to protect against a potential invasion by Tang (China) and Silla(Korea) from the north via Hakata Bay. Mizuki, meaning “water for-tress,” is so named because it was once bounded on one side by amoat. In the 8th century, the east and west gates served as entrances
into Dazaifu for foreign diplomats and officials from the capital.
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Wooden water ductsChapter

Chapter

02
Dazaifu & Defense
National Special Historic Site
Location: Onojo/Dazaifu City/Umi

Site of Ono-jo Mountain Fortress

Built in 665 under the guidance of exiled nobles from Baekje (aKorean kingdom allied with Japan), Ono-jo Fortress is Japan’s
oldest mountain fort. Earthen fortifications were built along themountain ridges to connect stone fortifications built in the small

valleys and around gates. Ono-jo was built in the same style as amountain fortress that protected the Baekje capital of Buyeo andthe similar placement and construction techniques illustrate thedepth of cultural exchange occurring at the time.

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02 Dazaifu & Defense

Chapter

Chapter

02
Dazaifu & Defense
National Historic Site
Location: Chikushino

National Special Historic Site

Site of Ashiki Mountain Fortress

Location: Chikushino/Kiyama (Saga Pref.)Site of Kii-jo Mountain Fortress

The Ashiki Mountain Fortress is located to the southeast of Dazaifu andstructed under the guidance of exiled nobles from Baekje (a Korean kingdom allied

and Kii-jo fortresses. Construction of the defenses here required advanced

Kii-jo was built in 665, making it the oldest mountain fortress in Japan. It was con-with Japan at the time). For the Dazaifu government that arose in the 8th century,

Kii-jo occupied a strategic southern location. Kii-jo was also a place of culture, as the
Man’yoshu (a collection of poems from the 8th century) contains a poem by Governor-General of Dazaifu and poet Otomo no Tabito about a visit to Kii-jo.
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is believed to have been built in the same period as the ancient Ono-jo
techniques, including compacting layer upon layer of soil to build earthen

embankments and piecing together carefully-shaped stones to build

stone walls. Such apparent architectural skill indicates the advanced levelof technological exchange occurring in ancient Dazaifu.

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02 Dazaifu & Defense

03
Chapter

Dazaifu & Religion

Chapter

03 Dazaifu & Religion

Many temples and shrines are located in and around Dazaifu and various mountain peaks in thesurrounding area were used as places of worship. People prayed to the gods for the protection ofJapan, for safe travels, and to mourn the passing of the Empress Saimei (594-661).

Chapter

03
Dazaifu & Religion

Statues at Kanzeonji

National Historic Site

National Important Cultural Property (Sculpture）

Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property (Structure/Art)
Location: Dazaifu City

Kanzeonji Temple & Kaidan-in Temple

Also known as Fu no Odera Temple, Kanzeonji was the main templeof Dazaifu. In 761, the Chinese monk Jianzhen (Ganjin) built a kaidan(a platform where monks are ordained) at Kanzeonji. Together withthe temples of Todaiji (Nara) and Shimotsuke Yakushiji (Tochigi), it
was considered one of the three major kaidan in Japan. The tem-

ple’s historical Buddha statues and bugaku masks from China areevidence of the influence of foreign culture at Kanzeonji.

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Kanzeonji

Kaidan-in

19ChapterNational Treasure (Artifact）

03 Dazaifu & Religion

National Historic Site
Location: Dazaifu City

Location: Dazaifu City

Bonsho Bell

Site of Chikuzen
Kokubunji Temple

Japan’s oldest temple bell, even older than thebell at Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto (estimated tohave been cast in 698), is located at Kanzeonji

In the mid-8th century, Emperor

Temple. Sugawara no Michizane, after being

Shomu built Buddhist kokubunji

appointed to Dazaifu in the early 10th century,(provincial temples) and kokubun-

wrote a poem that mentions the sound of theniji (provincial nunneries) through-bell. So many centuries later, the bell still rings

out Japan to provide spiritualwith the same somber tone.

protection for the nation. He alsoordered that scriptures be stored
in their 7-storied pagodas. The

head temple of all kokubunji is
Todaiji in Nara. Chikuzen Kokubunji

is believed to have been the firstkokubunji completed in Kyushu
under the Dazaifu government.
Chapter

03
Dazaifu & Religion
National Historic Site
Location: Dazaifu City

Site of Kokubu Tile Kiln

The Kokubu Tile Kiln was a kiln in operationfrom the 8th century. It was built by digging a

trench up a slope and covering the trench inan adobe arch to make an underground kiln

with an ascending firing chamber. The kiln

was used to make roof tiles with lotus flower
designs similar to those found in China andKorea at the time, and the tiles were supplied
to places like the Dazaifu government build-ings and Chikuzen Kokubunji Temple. The

kiln site now lies in the middle of a reservoir
Photo courtesy Haruhiko Ochiai (Kyushu National Museum)20

and is not accessible to the public.
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Chapter

City Designated Site (Historical)
National Important Cultural
Property (Structure)

Location: Dazaifu City

Site of Han’nyaji
TempleThis temple was originally locatedoutside of the Dazaifu city grid but
was relocated to a hill within thegrid in the 8th century. The founda-tion mound and pillar base of theoriginal pagoda have been foundand a 7-tiered stone pagoda built in

the Kamakura era (1185-1333) still
stands. Han’nyaji was roofed withtiles in the same refined style as theDazaifu government buildings.

Chapter

03
Dazaifu & Religion
National Historic Site
Location: Chikushino

City Historical Site

Site of Tonoharu Pagoda

Location: Chikushino

This stone once supported the central pillar of

Site of Sugizuka Temple

top is meant to hold the bones of Buddha, how-southwestern corner of ancient Dazaifu. To

This temple at Sugizuka was located in thea pagoda at an ancient temple. The hole in theits east was the Kando, a road that ran fromever the two-tiered square hole in this stone is

Hakata Bay and passed through the Westa style very rarely found in Kyushu. Based on

Mizuki Gate before leading into Dazaifu

excavated roof tiles and the structure of theproper. The temple would have been thepillar stone, this stone may have been fromfirst impressive building foreign visitors

Han’nyaji Temple before it was moved into thesaw upon entering Dazaifu. The temple

Dazaifu city grid.

was likely built in the early 8th century, thesame time Dazaifu was first developing as
a city.
2223

03 Dazaifu & Religion

Chapter

Chapter

03
Dazaifu & Religion
National Treasure (Written Document）

National Important Cultural Property (Structure)
Location: Dazaifu City

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Dazaifu Tenmangu dates back to the early 10th century when a mausoleum was built on

this site for Sugawara no Michizane. Michizane was a member of the aristocracy who was

appointed to work in Dazaifu and then spent the rest of his life here. It is the head shrine for
all Tenmangu shrines in Japan. Because Michizane was revered for his literary skill, both
nobles and warriors have come to pray here and, even now, many people worship Michizane as the god of learning. The shrine also houses a copy of the Chinese text Kanen.
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03 Dazaifu & Religion

ChapterPrefectural Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property
Location: Dazaifu City

Dazaifu Tenmangu Jinko Procession

This festival began in 1101 at the behest of Oe no Masafusa, Pro-

visional Governor-General of Dazaifu, to mourn for Sugawara
no Michizane, who died in Dazaifu. Every September, a paradeof people 400 to 700 strong, dressed in traditional clothing
and carrying shrines, marches from Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine(where Michizane is enshrined) to where his home formerly

stood at the site of the South Hall. Even now, the festival looks
like something straight out of an ancient picture scroll.

Kyokusui no En

Chapter

03
Dazaifu & Religion
Location: Dazaifu City

Tanabata no En

Site of South HallThis is the site of the building where Sugawara no

Michizane lived since his appointment to Dazaifu
in 901 until his death in 903. It was known as theSouth Hall of the government and was locatedalong Suzaku Avenue, the main boulevard of the

Location: Dazaifu City

Traditional Events at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Starting around the 10th century, high-level officials assigned to work in Dazaifu

brought with them a series of leisure activities performed at the Imperial Court. The
four events were known as the Shido no En (the Four Festivities), of which three arecity. Jomyoin Temple was erected here in 1023 inmemorial for Michizane. A large hackberry tree
(enoki) was located on the temple grounds, which
led to the temple being called Enokidera, andthen Enokisha as it is known today.

still held: Kyokusui no En (which originated in China), Tanabata no En, and Zangiku
no En. Each event involves traditional music and poetry writing.
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03 Dazaifu & Religion

Chapter

Chapter

03
Dazaifu & Religion
View from summit of Mt. Tenpai

National Historic Site

Location: Chikushino/Dazaifu City

Mt. HomanOnce called Mt. Mikasa and Mt. Kamado, Mt. Homan was

Location: Chikushino

revered as the god of the water sources that irrigated the local

Mt. Tenpai

Mt. Tenpai lay to the south of ancient Dazaifu and offered panoramic views of

the Western Capital from its peak. Ancient cities were often built with the main
entrance facing south, making Mt. Tenpai an important part of the Dazaifu land-

scape. A legend says that Sugawara no Michizane, banished to Dazaifu in 901 as theresult of a false accusation, pleaded his innocence to the gods from this mountain.
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fields. When the Dazaifu government was established in the 8th
century, Mt. Homan also acted as a kimon-yoke (“demon gate
protector”) that protected the city from evil spirits said to comefrom the northeast. Mt. Homan was once the site of religious
services to protect Japan, and emissaries to China would alsocome to the mountain to pray for safety on their voyages.

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03 Dazaifu & Religion

04
Chapter

Dazaifu & Poetry

Chapter

04 Dazaifu & Poetry
Location: Chikushino

Dazaifu was home to a number of priests and government officials who were skilled in

Suita no Yu

poetry and immortalized their feelings of love, loss, and longing in verse. Their work
would have great influence on Japanese poetry to come.

(Futsukaichi Hot Springs)

The Man’yoshu contains an 8th cen-tury poem written by Otomo no
Tabito, Governor-General of Dazaifu,

comparing his sadness at losing his

Location: Onojo/Chikushino/
Dazaifu City/Umi/
Kiyama (Saga Pref.)wife to the cries of a crane. A poem

Man’yoshu Tsukushi
Kadan

from the Ryojin Hisho dating back toaround 1180 mentioned that various
guests frequented the springs andIn the years around 720 to 750, aentered the bath in a specific order:group of poets called the Tsukushi

the high-level officials of Dazaifu

Kadan lived in Dazaifu. Many of theirfirst, then the monks of Kanzeonji,

poems are included in the Man’yoshu,

Anrakuji, and Shioji, and then theJapan’s oldest collection of poetry.

soldiers of Dazaifu.

Of these, Otomo no Tabito, Gover-nor-General of Dazaifu, and the Baika

no En plum blossom viewing parties

Chapterhe held at his residence exemplified

04
Dazaifu & Poetry

the culture of poetry and fascination

with plum blossoms that had beenbrought over from China.
By Nobuaki Yamamura

City Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property

Location: Dazaifu City

Plum Trees of Dazaifu

City Natural Monument
Location: Onojo

Mikasa no Mori Forest

Plum trees were brought to Japan from China

and the pastime of plum blossom viewing is also

High-level Dazaifu official Otomo no Momoyo wrote thea part of Chinese culture. The Baika no En (Plumfollowing poem in the 8th-century Man’yoshu collection:

Blossom Party) was a party for composing poems“Saying you love someone when you do not will incur

held at the residence of Otomo no Tabito, the Gov-

the wrath of the god of the Mikasa no Mori Forest inernor-General of Dazaifu. A poem composed here

Ono.” The Kando Road ran just west of here, connecting

and recorded in the Man’yoshu, an 8th-century

Dazaifu with the capital in Nara. Many officials and mer-collection of poems, was used as the source forchants at the time likely gazed upon this forest during

the name of the Reiwa era. Appreciation of plum

their travels.

blossoms spread from the nobility to the common
people, and Sugawara no Michizane’s love forplum blossoms and the Legend of the Tobiume(Flying Plum Tree) made them even more popular.
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05
Chapter

Dazaifu & Technology

Chapter

Dazaifu was at the forefront of new construction and production techniques, including city plan-ning and irrigation, roof tile and ceramic production, and construction of mountain fortresses,
government offices, and places of worship.

National Historic Site

Prefectural Historical Site

Location: Kasuga/Onojo/Dazaifu City

Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln Ruins

In operation from the mid-6th century throughthe mid-9th century, this area was the largest

producer of Sue ware in western Japan. Roof tiles
with patterns from Korea and Kansai were madehere in the 7th century and are evidence of theconsiderable exchange of techniques happening

at the time. From the 8th century, it also produced
Chapter

05

tableware for Dazaifu, the Western Capital, and its

products were used by government officials andcommoners alike.

Dazaifu & Technology
Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property (Art)
Location: Onojo

Inscribed Sue Ware Excavatedfrom Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln

A historical legal text from the early 10th cen-tury called the Engishiki mentions taxes being
paid with jars by Chikuzen Province. The Ushi-

kubi Sue Ware Kiln supplied ceramics to Dazaifu
and jars inscribed with the year 713 and a char-acter referring to a tax of the era were excavatedfrom the kiln site. This supports the idea thatgovernment taxation systems similar to thosein China were implemented even in the remote

Location: Nakagawa

Sakuta no Unade Waterway

This 5.5 km-long, man-made irrigation water-

way distributes water from the Nakagawa Riverthat runs across the Fukuoka plain. The waterway is mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, a history ofJapan completed in 720. Construction involved

carving through solid rock and large areas oftableland. The fields that Sakuta no Unade irrigates helped Dazaifu develop into a city of international culture.

provinces of Japan.
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05 Dazaifu & Technology

06
Chapter

Dazaifu & the Past

Name

№
1-1
1-2
2

Tsukushi Province lies close to Korea and mainland China and had high levels of technologicaland cultural exchange from early on. This formed the foundation of its position as Japan’sWestern Capital.

3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
4-1
4-2
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
16-1
16-2
17

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Dazaifu & the Past

Chapter

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Site of Dazaifu Government Offices

Kanzeonji 4-chome, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Ono-jo Mountain FortressShioji 207, Umi-machi, Kasuya-gun

Site of Dazaifu Kyaku-kan

BCD

Prefectural Historical Site
Location: Onojo

E

Zen-ichida Burial Mounds

F
G

This group of burial mounds were constructed between the lateH

6th and late 7th centuries. Excavations here unearthed harnesses,I

decorated swords, Sue ware inscribed with the character “奈,”Jand ceramics brought over from the Silla Empire of Korea. The

Silla ceramics were found in a number of nearby burial mounds,
indicating the area had early contact with foreign nations.

34

K
L
Ceramic from Silla Korea

M
NO

Suzaku 3-chome 13, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Mizuki Fortifications

Mizuki 1-chome, Dazaifu-shi, etc.

Site of Mizuki Fortifications (Kamiori Section)

Asahigaoka 1-chome, Onojo-shi

Site of Mizuki Fortifications (Odoi Section)

Noborimachi 8-chome 12, Kasuga-shi

Site of Mizuki Fortifications (Tenjinyama Section)

Tenjinyama 1-chome 128, Kasuga-shi

Kanzeonji Temple

Kanzeonji 5-chome 6-1, Dazaifu-shi

Kaidan-in Temple

Kanzeonji 5-chome 7-10, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Chikuzen Kokubunji Temple

Kokubu 4-chome, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Kokubu Tile Kiln

Kokubu 4-chome 17-21, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Dazaifu Gakko-in

Kanzeonji 4-chome, Dazaifu-shi

Mt. Homan

Uchiyama 883, Dazaifu-shi

Bonsho Bell

Kanzeonji 5-chome 6-1, Dazaifu-shi

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Saifu 4-chome 7-1, Dazaifu-shi

Dazaifu Tenmangu Jinko Procession

Saifu 4-chome 7-1, Dazaifu-shi

Traditional Events at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Saifu 4-chome 7-1, Dazaifu-shi

Man'yoshu Tsukushi Kadan

Kanzeonji 4-chome 6-1, Dazaifu-shi
Dazaifu Exhibition Hall

Location of Excavated Army Seal (Oka Corps)

Kanzeonji 3-chome 13-1, Dazaifu-shi
Inside Mizuki Elementary School

Location of Excavated Army Seal (Mikasa Corps)

Sakamoto 3-chome, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Han’nyaji Temple

Suzaku 2-chome 18, Dazaifu-shi

Site of South Hall

Suzaku 6-chome 18-1, Dazaifu-shi

Site of Kii-jo Mountain Fortress

Kokura, Kiyama-cho, Miyaki-gun, Saga Pref., etc.

Saifu 4-chome 7-1, Dazaifu-shi
Dazaifu Tenmangu

Plum Trees of Dazaifu

Site of Ashiki Mountain Fortress

Ashiki, Chikushino-shi

Suita no Yu (Futsukaichi Hot Springs)

Yumachi, Chikushino-shi

Site of Tonoharu Pagoda

Tonoharu-higashi 3-chome 14, Chikushino-shi

Mt. Tenpai

Musashi, Chikushino-shi

Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln Ruins

Kamiori 5-chome, Onojo-shi (Site of Umegashira Kiln)

Site of Sugizuka Temple

Sugizuka 2-chome 5-18, Chikushino-shi

Inscribed Sue Ware Excavated from Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln
Mikasa no Mori Forest

Zen-ichida Burial Mounds

Sakuta no Unade Waterway№
A

Address

Mizuki Hall

Name

Dazaifu Exhibition Hall

Akebonomachi 3-chome 8-3, Onojo-shi
Onojo Cocoro-no-furusato-kan City Museum
Yamada 2-chome 4, Onojo-shi

Otogana-higashi 1-chome 9, Onojo-shi
Antoku/Yamada, Nakagawa-shi

Kokubu 2-chome 17-10, Dazaifu-shi

Address

Kanzeonji 4-chome 6-1, Dazaifu-shi

Phone

092-555-8455
092-922-7811

Dazaifu Fureai Museum

Kokubu 4-chome 9-1, Dazaifu-shi

092-928-0800

Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum

Saifu 4-chome 7-1, Dazaifu-shi

092-922-8225

Dazaifu Hall

Kyushu National Museum

Umi Museum

Onojo Cocoro-no-furusato-kan City Museum
Nakoku-no-oka Historical Museum
Milica Roden Nakagawa

Saifu 3-chome 2-3, Dazaifu-shi

Ishizaka 4-chome 7-2, Dazaifu-shi

050-5542-8600

Akebonomachi 3-chome 8-3, Onojo-shi

092-558-5000

Chu 2-chome 5-1, Nakagawa-shi

092-954-2211

Miyaura 60-1, Kiyama-cho, Miyaki-gun, Saga Pref.

0942-92-0289

Shioji 207, Umi-machi, Kasuya-gun

092-932-7373

Umi 1-chome 1-22, Umi-machi, Kasuya-gun

Okamoto 3-chome 57, Kasuga-shi

Chikushino City Historical Museum

Futsukaichi-minami 1-chome 9-1, Chikushino-shi

Kyushu Historical Museum

Mitsusawa 5208-3, Ogori-shi

Kiyama Town Library

Shioji Prefectural Forest Park
Kanzeonji Treasure House

092-918-8700

Kanzeonji 5-chome 6-1, Dazaifu-shi

092-932-0011
092-501-1144

092-922-1911

0942-75-9575
092-922-1811

Saga
Prefecture

For more info

Fukuoka Prefecture● Umi

Nakagawa ●● Onojo

Office Website

To Hakata Station● Dazaifu

Kasuga ●https://www.nishinomiyako.com/● Chikushino● Kiyama

To Hakata
Station

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Nishitetsu

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To Nishitetsu
Fukuoka (Tenjin)
Station

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Enlarged view of surrounding areaFu

Map of Kyushuu

To Hakata Station

385
To Keisen
Station3

To Kagoshima Chuo Station

Ch

ho
iku

L
in
Ma

ine

200

3

To Omuta Station

To Kumamoto Station

№
A
№

1-1
1-2
2
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
4-1
4-2
5
6
7

Name

Site of Dazaifu Government Offices
Site of Dazaifu Kyaku-kan

Site of Ono-jo Mountain Fortress
Site of Mizuki Fortifications
Site of Mizuki Fortifications(Kamiori Section)
Site of Mizuki Fortifications (Odoi

Section)Site of Mizuki Fortifications (Tenjinyama Section)

Kanzeonji Temple
Kaidan-in Temple

№

8
9
10
11
12
13
16-1
16-2
17

Site of Chikuzen Kokubunji Temple

18

Site of Kokubu Tile Kiln

20

Site of Dazaifu Gakko-in

19

Mt. Homan

Name

Bonsho Bell

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Dazaifu Tenmangu Jinko Procession
Traditional Events at Dazaifu
Tenmangu Shrine

Man'yoshu Tsukushi Kadan

Location of Excavated Army Seal

№

21
22
23
24
25
26

(Mikasa Corps)
Location of Excavated Army Seal

27

Site of Han’nyaji Temple

28

Plum Trees of Dazaifu

30(Oka Corps)

Site of South Hall

Site of Kii-jo Mountain Fortress29

このストーリーブックは令和 3 年度 文化財多言語解説整備事業（文化資源活用事業補助金）を活用して制作されたものです。

Name

Site of Ashiki Mountain Fortress

B
C

Suita no Yu (Futsukaichi Hot Springs)

D

Mt. Tenpai

F

Site of Tonoharu Pagoda

E

Site of Sugizuka Temple

G

Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln Ruins
Inscribed Sue Ware Excavatedfrom Ushikubi Sue Ware Kiln
Mikasa no Mori Forest

Zen-ichida Burial Mounds

Sakuta no Unade Waterway

H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O

Mizuki Hall

Name

Dazaifu Exhibition Hall

Dazaifu Fureai Museum
Dazaifu Hall

Dazaifu Tenmangu Museum
Kyushu National Museum
Umi Museum

Onojo Cocoro-no-furusato-kan City Museum
Nakoku-no-oka Historical Museum
Milica Roden Nakagawa

Chikushino City Historical Museum
Kiyama Town Library

Kyushu Historical Museum

Shioji Prefectural Forest Park
Kanzeonji Treasure House【問い合わせ先】「西の都」日本遺産活性化協議会（事務局：福岡県教育庁教育総務部文化財保護課）〒 812-8575 福岡県福岡市博多区東公園 7-7 e-mail：kbunkazai@pref.fukuoka.lg.jp